Vol. 11, Issue 3 (2025)

This case series evaluated the therapeutic outcomes of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and corticosteroid injections in patients with lateral epicondylitis. Lateral epicondylitis (LE), commonly referred to as “tennis elbow,” is a degenerative condition affecting the origin of the extensor carpi radialis brevis tendon, frequently seen in middle-aged adults performing repetitive gripping or wrist extension activities. We reviewed 50 cases of patients treated with either PRP (n=25] or corticosteroid injections (n=[25]). Outcome measures included visual analog scale (VAS) scores for pain, grip strength, and functional assessment. The PRP group demonstrated consistent superiority in providing long-term pain relief and functional improvement, particularly in patients with longer symptom duration and more severe baseline symptoms compared to the corticosteroid group, which showed effective in rapidly reducing inflammation and pain, tend to show a decline in efficacy after a few weeks. In this study, corticosteroids achieved slightly better pain relief at 4 weeks, but this benefit did not persist. Complication rates were low in both groups, with no major adverse effects. PRP is a promising biological therapy that offers long-term benefits in the treatment of lateral epicondylitis. Its regenerative potential enables it to provide sustained symptom relief and functional recovery, particularly in chronic and severe cases. Corticosteroids remain useful for immediate short-term relief, especially in acute flares. The study also analyzed prior treatment approaches. Most patients had already undergone conservative treatments like NSAIDs, physiotherapy, and bracing. Their lack of improvement with these modalities justifies the use of injectables.